Venue & Game Info
Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
Kickoff: 1:00 PM CT
Capacity: ~11,000 (outdoor stadium)
Weather Forecast: Cold, ~41°F, cloudy skies, NW winds 10–12 mph, chance of light drizzle
Broadcast: NCAA.com / ESPN+
Injury Report
Harding Bison: RB Will McKellar (ankle) probable; WR Tyrese Johnson (hamstring) questionable.
Pittsburg State Gorillas: QB Chad Dodson Jr. (shoulder soreness) probable; LB Jack Barkley (knee) out for season.
Key Player Matchups
Quarterbacks:
Harding: Will McKellar – 1,210 rush yards, 14 TD (option QB, limited passing)
Pittsburg State: Chad Dodson Jr. – 2,785 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT
Running Backs:
Harding: Cole Keylon – 987 yards, 11 TD
Pittsburg State: Elijah Harris – 1,045 yards, 12 TD
Receivers:
Harding: Tyrese Johnson – 412 yards, 4 TD (questionable)
Pittsburg State: Bryce Murphy – 865 yards, 9 TD
Defensive Leaders:
Harding: LB Noah Temple – 102 tackles, 8 sacks
Pittsburg State: DL Keiondre Smith – 88 tackles, 10 sacks
Recent Team Form
Harding:
W vs Henderson State (28-24)
W vs Ouachita Baptist (35-21)
W vs Southern Arkansas (42-14)
W vs Arkansas Tech (38-17)
W vs East Central (31-10)
Pittsburg State:
W vs Missouri Southern (27-24)
L vs Northwest Missouri State (31-28)
W vs Emporia State (35-14)
W vs Washburn (41-10)
L vs Missouri Western (34-20)
Series History
Harding and Pittsburg State have met twice in postseason play.
Pittsburg State leads the all-time series 2–0.
Last meeting: 2022, Pittsburg State won 35–21 in the playoffs.
Betting Trends
Harding has covered in 5 of last 6 games.
Pittsburg State is 3-2 ATS in last 5, but struggled against nationally ranked opponents.
Harding games trend under due to option offense and strong defense.
Historical Betting Results
Harding covered vs Ouachita Baptist (-3.5), winning 35–21.
Pittsburg State failed to cover vs Missouri Western (-2.5), losing 34–20.
Harding 7–3 ATS in playoff games since 2020.
Projected Score: Harding 28 – Pittsburg State 20
Reasoning: Harding’s triple-option offense and elite defense should control the tempo. Pittsburg State’s upset potential hinges on Dodson’s passing efficiency and Murphy’s big-play ability, but Harding’s depth and undefeated pedigree make them strong favorites.
Final Take: Expect a physical, defensive-minded playoff clash. Harding’s GAC championship pedigree meets Pittsburg State’s MIAA tradition, with the Bison favored to advance in a hard-fought battle at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Game Odds
Harding Bison – 6.5
Pittsburg State Gorillas 49
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, November 28, 2025
